United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer began a four-day official visit to the Chinese mainland on January 28, marking the first high-level UK leadership trip to China since 2018. The visit comes as bilateral goods trade reached $103.7 billion in 2025, demonstrating resilient economic cooperation despite global uncertainties.
Analysts highlight three key focus areas for the 2026 dialogue:
Expanding clean energy partnerships in offshore wind and EV infrastructure
Addressing market access for UK financial services in Shanghai and Shenzhen
Coordinating approaches to digital currency regulation
Business leaders from both countries are scheduled to sign agreements in Beijing on January 30 covering semiconductor research collaborations and sustainable agriculture projects. The UK PM's delegation includes representatives from Rolls-Royce, HSBC, and renewable energy startups.
This visit follows China's recent tariff reductions on British luxury goods and the UK's approval of a Chinese-funded battery plant in Wales. Observers note it could set the tone for Europe-Asia economic relations in the post-pandemic recovery era.
